Manila, Philippines – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has dismissed claims by his estranged sister, Senator Imee Marcos, that he has a long-term drug addiction, amid growing anti-corruption protests in the country.

Sister Alleges Cocaine Use

On November 17, Senator Imee publicly accused her brother of developing a cocaine dependency, which she claimed contributed to corruption, poor governance, and “very wrong decisions.” She also alleged that Marcos Jr.’s wife and children were involved in drug use.

“The flood of corruption, the lack of direction, and absence of accountability are caused by his drug use,” Imee said at a Manila park rally.

The senator did not provide evidence for her claims.

Marcos Administration Responds

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, speaking for the president, called the accusations baseless and recycled, pointing to prior negative drug tests during Marcos Jr.’s 2021 presidential campaign.

“Sen Imee’s statements are a distraction from ongoing corruption investigations,” Castro said, urging her to focus on accountability instead of making personal attacks.

Corruption Scandal in Flood-Control Projects

The controversy comes as the Marcos administration investigates alleged corruption in flood-control projects, which may have cost taxpayers up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) from 2023 to 2025. Allegedly, officials received kickbacks from contracts for thousands of flood defences, many of which were poorly constructed or never built.

The Philippines has faced more than 20 storms in 2025, including Typhoon Kalmaegi and Typhoon Fung-wong, which have killed hundreds and displaced over a million people, highlighting the importance of functional flood-control systems.

Public Backlash

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Manila during a three-day rally organized by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), demanding accountability from government officials. The INC, which previously supported Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, has shifted its backing due to a political falling-out.

President Marcos vowed legal action against officials involved in the scandal, saying,

“They’ll be jailed – there’s no merry Christmas for them.”

However, nearly 100 days into the inquiry, no notable arrests have been made. Public sentiment remains skeptical, with over 80% of Metro Manila residents reporting that corruption has worsened under Marcos’s administration, according to a Social Weather Stations poll.